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A good performance might have been anticipated Tuesday night at the Keepmoat when Rovers met Blackpool.

Two early goals brimming with PL experience stopped Rovers on the edge of a breakthrough I believe. From then on for the rest of the first half Rovers did well against a very strong side that were playing well.

Confidence is easily knocked though as we saw in the last 15 minutes of the game in particular.

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Right everyone…get ready for our cup game tomorrow. Let’s hope we take things seriously and prepare and play as if it was the final. Notts will give us a tough time without question. Tomorrow concentration is the key. Time for Rovers to shine. Come on Rovers!

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As we get set for the visit of Leicester tomorrow there’s one last minute thing on my mind…
Last minute let-ins.
To win tomorrow we must not let in those last minute goals. Not rocket science is it to say defend for your lives in the last five minutes of each half. It’s well known that lots of goals are scored in these key minutes. So how do we stop them?
I must do the stats one day to show how many games Rovers have lost due to last minute strikes. Perhaps you have them to hand – no matter the number it’s how we stop them that matters. So our players need to be fit to play 95 minutes …getting there and everyone needs to defend. Let’s hope DS has been working on this and we have a good chance.

Cheering for you tomorrow. Come on you reds.

<strong>The views from The Panel are not necessarily those of the Vikingsbloggen team.

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Over the last few weeks the Rovers have been clawing away trying to catch the final points to ensure Championship survival for a fourth successive season. The finish line has been edging closer week by week with draws against Cardiff, Preston and Crystal Palace. A win in the local derby at Oakwell would ensure ultimate safety.

As all Rovers fans know, getting the much needed points would never be an easy task and a game against local rivals is never easy in the lightest of situations.

The game at Oakwell started off as open as any other with both sides going close; but failing to score. As the sides settled into the game, the visitors were the side on top of the game in both possession and chances, yet the half ended goalless – just!

The second period began as the first ended with Rovers in top.

After having a Wayne Thomas goal ruled out, Rovers’ went ahead on 58 minutes following a foul on Ryan Mason. Coppinger took the direct free kick which took a large deflection to the left of the penalty area where George Friend was available to hand over to Mason at the back of the area. His shot fell kindly to Coppinger, who was just onside, to pass to Jason Euell who was open in front of goal. Euell’s tap in caused mass celebration in the away stand – safety was in sight.

This was until, on 68 minutes, Stephen Foster was on hand to head in a Butterfield corner to level the scoring.

The light at the end of the tunnel shone a little brighter on 72 minutes when John Oster did well to make some space on the edge of the area; enough to unleash a shot. Oster’s shot was fumbled by Steele and fell to the feet of Euell for his second tap in of the game.

Rovers kept pressing with Steele doing well to keep the advantage at only 1 goal. Barnsley were then awarded a free kick on the edge of the area which was well taken by Keiran Trippier who found the top right hand corner – out of the reach of Sullivan.

The game ended 2-2 with Rovers virtually safe, although not mathematically safe. Another point will see us safe.

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An extremely vital game for both Rovers and North End ended level at the Keepmoat, leaving both teams in no different position in the fight for survival.

Rovers made two changes for the game with Jimmy O’Connor joining the line up after recovering from a broken foot, in place of Mustapha Dumbuya, who picked up a knock in Saturday’s defeat against Cardiff. Joseph Mills left the action on Saturday through injury and was replaced by Matt Kilgallon, who also took his spot in last night’s game. It has also emerged that Mills will miss the rest of the season and may therefore never appear for Rovers again.

Preston made just one change with Adam Barton being replaced by former Rovers’ loanee Chris Brown.

The battle was an extremely open game creating a tense and ‘nerve-racking’ atmosphere within the Keepmoat.

George Friend had Rovers’ first notable chance of the game when he managed to weave into the box from the left before firing a shot that looked to be creeping below the crossbar, although the Preston ‘keeper managed a spectacular save.

Shortly after, O’Connor was denied a penalty decision that could have easily gone either way – but was booked for diving. It looked pretty legitimate to us with a similar view to the referee.

The first half contained too many chances to mention for both teams as the game was so open.

The second half started in the same way as the first with chance after chance being well saved or off target for both sides. This was until the 79th minute.

A clearance from an O’Connor cross fell to Stock on the edge of the area. His well struck shot then span into the top corner of the net creating jubilant scenes in the three Rovers stands.

The celebrations were however short-lived as Preston gained a corner straight from the restart. The corner was taken by Iain Hume and reached the far post causing a goal mouth scramble before the ball was knocked into the roof of the net by North End substitute Paul Hayes. A goal which looked offside, and can be seen on each of the replays I have seen.

At this point, O’Driscoll decides to make a substitute that should have been made two minutes earlier with Wayne Thomas replacing John Oster, giving Rovers five at the back, after conceding?

On 88 minutes, O’Driscoll decided to remove James Hayter to give Rovers’ a less tired striker with only two minutes to go – has he lost the plot? Rovers had further chances when Franck Moussa’s shot bounced back off the crossbar before James Hayter was ruled offside.

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Going into the game, Cardiff City sit in the healthier, 3rd, position in the league with a view of automatic promotion, or the play-offs at worst. Rovers however sit in 20th in the table, just 9 points above the dreaded relegation zone.

Rovers made no changes for the game against an also unchanged Cardiff side.

The game began with Rovers on the front foot for the first 14 minutes with shots from Stock, Coppinger, Moussa and Hayter all missing the target. This was, until, Cardiff broke from a Rovers free kick and Burke scored from a clever back heal from Jay Bothroyd.

Joseph Mills was substituted due to injury in the 20th minute and was replaced by Matt Kilgallon who played in central defence with George Friend moving to the left back position.

After the goal, Cardiff still had chances although it seemed that Rovers were on the front foot and looked likely to get the next goal.

The second half began in the same way as the first with shots again coming from the likely candidates. On 70 minutes, Oster was replaced by Euell, giving the Rovers a more attacking line up. Rovers carried on to attack and made it pay on 77 minutes when Coppinger fired in his first goal since November. The shot coming from the edge of the area.

Rovers had chances to take the advantage throughout the rest of the half. Gillett made way for Wilson after 89 minutes, giving a little more stability to see off the draw or snatch the win

This was until Burke made way for Jason Koumas in the Cardiff side. A free kick was given away on the edge of the area and was scored by Koumas, giving the visitors the advantage against the run of play.

Four minutes of added time was then announced, giving hope for the home side then, on 90+4 minutes Koumas doubled the advantage and killed off the game with a shot from just inside the area.

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Tomorrow sees the yearly invasion of Bristol by the Vikings of Doncaster who will be making the 370 mile round trip.

Keith Millen’s side have been on a run of good form ahead of the visit of the Rovers. They have won 5 of their last 6 games with their only defeat in this time coming away at Norwich where they left 3-1 losers.

The last meeting between Rovers and City was back in August when both teams left with a point following a 1-1 draw at the Keepmoat. Sharp levelled the scores with a penalty at the death against veteran ‘keeper David James. This left Rovers in 5th place in league while Bristol sat in 20th, as this was their only point of the campaign thus far.

Going into tomorrow’s game, Bristol sit in 14th position while Rovers lag behind in 19th.

Teams

Bristol City

City may see the return of Cole Skuse, Jon Stead and Jamie McAllister in some form for tomorrow’s game following respective long term absences.

Liam Fontaine and Steve Caulker will both be absent as they have been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury. Captain Louis Carey is still recovering from a fractured skull and will therefore miss out against Rovers.

Rovers

Centre back Wayne Thomas should be back in contention for tomorrow’s game following a short term knee injury.

Martin Woods, who was nearing a return from injury, has been ruled out for the rest of the season which is a massive blow for Donny.

Steve Brooker is nearing a return following a calf injury while George Friend is being monitored as he currently has a double hernia. Billy Sharp, Joseph Mills and Jimmy O’Connor all remain sidelined.